By David Suzuki

Traditionally, we香蕉视频直播檝e labelled events over which we have no influence or control 香蕉视频直播渁cts of God香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播渘atural disasters.香蕉视频直播� But what香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渘atural香蕉视频直播� about climate-induced disasters today? Scientists call the interval since the Industrial Revolution the 香蕉视频直播淎nthropocene,香蕉视频直播� a period when our species has become the major factor altering the biological, physical and chemical properties of the planet on a geological scale. Empowered by fossil fuel香蕉视频直播揹riven technologies, a rapidly growing human population and an insatiable demand for constant growth in consumption and the global economy, our species is responsible for the calamitous consequences.

We now know that the weight of water behind large dams and injecting pressurized water into the earth for fracking induce earthquakes. Clearing large swathes of forests, draining wetlands, depleting water for industrial agriculture, polluting marine and freshwater ecosystems with nitrogen, plastics and pesticides from farmland and cities, expanding urban areas and employing ecologically destructive fishing practices such as drift nets and trawling all combine to produce species extinction on a scale not seen since the mega-extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

But we use language to deflect blame from ourselves. Not long ago, wolves, seals and basking sharks were called 香蕉视频直播減ests香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播渧ermin,香蕉视频直播� regarded as nuisances to be killed for bounties. Insects are the most numerous, diverse and important group of animals in ecosystems, yet all are affected by insecticides applied to eliminate the handful that attack commercial crops. One egregious class of pesticide is neonicotinoids, nerve toxins to which bees 香蕉视频直播� important pollinators 香蕉视频直播� are especially sensitive. Ancient forests are called 香蕉视频直播渨ild香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播渄ecadent香蕉视频直播� while plantations that replace them after clear cutting are termed 香蕉视频直播渘ormal.香蕉视频直播�

One of the rarest ecosystems on Earth is the temperate rainforest stretching between Alaska and northern California, pinched between the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains. The huge trees there have been decimated in the U.S. Fewer than 10 per cent remain. Yet environmentalists who called for the entire remnant to be protected from logging were branded as 香蕉视频直播済reedy.香蕉视频直播�

Former B.C. Premier Glen Clark famously labelled environmentalists like me 香蕉视频直播渆nemies of B.C.香蕉视频直播� Former federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver called us 香蕉视频直播渇oreign-funded radicals香蕉视频直播� while others said we were 香蕉视频直播渆co-terrorists.香蕉视频直播� The real enemies, radicals and eco-terrorists are those who rush to destroy forests, watersheds or the atmosphere without regard to ecological consequences.

Recently defeated B.C. Premier Christy Clark called opponents of pipelines or LNG plants 香蕉视频直播渇orces of no.香蕉视频直播� We who want to protect what we all need to survive would more accurately be called 香蕉视频直播渇orces of know香蕉视频直播� who say 香蕉视频直播測es香蕉视频直播� to a future of clean, renewable energy and a rich environment.

We seem to have forgotten that the word economy, like ecology, is based on the Greek oikos, meaning 香蕉视频直播渄omain香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播渉ousehold.香蕉视频直播� Because of our ability to find ways to exploit our surroundings, humans are not confined to a specific habitat or ecosystem. We香蕉视频直播檝e found ways to live almost everywhere 香蕉视频直播� in deserts, the Arctic, jungles, wetlands and mountains. Ecologists seek the principles, rules and laws that enable species to flourish sustainably. Economists are charged with 香蕉视频直播渕anaging香蕉视频直播� our activity within the biosphere, our domain.

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper decreed it was impossible to act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid climate change because it would destroy the economy. To people like him, the economy is more important than the air that provides weather and climate and enables us to live. At the same time, many 香蕉视频直播渇iscal conservatives香蕉视频直播� rail against an effective market solution to climate change 香蕉视频直播� carbon pricing 香蕉视频直播� ignoring the example of Sweden, which imposed a carbon tax of about $35 a tonne in 1991, grew its economy by 60 per cent by 2012 while reducing emissions by 25 per cent, then raised the tax to more than $160 in 2014.

We know climate change is caused primarily by human use of fossil fuels. It香蕉视频直播檚 influencing the frequency and intensity of such events as monstrous wildfires (Kelowna, Fort McMurray), floods (Calgary, Toronto), hurricanes (Katrina, Sandy), drought (California, Alberta), and loss of glaciers and ice sheets. There香蕉视频直播檚 no longer anything 香蕉视频直播渘atural香蕉视频直播� about them. We must acknowledge the human imprint. If we香蕉视频直播檙e the cause of the problems, then we must stop blaming 香蕉视频直播渘ature香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播淕od.香蕉视频直播� We have to take responsibility and tackle them with the urgency they require.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation.

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